A month that matters

Professor Scott Lucas from Birmingham University's Department of American and Canadian Studies says the mistake may seem slight but is significant.

"In November 1960, Kennedy was president elect, but he did not become president until he took the inaugural oath in January 1961.

"The reason this is important in Kennedy's case is because his inaugural speech is one of the most memorable in American history, with lines like 'ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country'.

"Not only for the sake of the record but for the sake of Kennedy, January '61 should be remembered as the start of his presidency."

He said he understood that "people do make mistakes but these details do matter".

"They should have got this right and they should now be looking to put it right."

Irish In Birmingham, which petitioned the council to erect the replica memorial, said the mistake had been spotted shortly after it was unveiled.

Chief executive Maurice Malone said the organisation had "submitted a planning application five months ago to change the dates and we're waiting for a response from the council".

"People do notice it - they take photographs of the memorial and pick up on the dates.

"Several people have mentioned it to us, so hopefully it will be changed soon."

Birmingham City Council said the replica mosaic had been financed by the developers who removed the original.

A spokesman said the dates referred to "the period when Kennedy was president elect as well as president".

She added: "Both the original JFK memorial, which was installed in 1968, and the current memorial unveiled earlier this year have the dates 1960 - 1963."

An event to look at housing across the West Midlands is being hosted by Wolverhampton City Council today.

The Local Government Association event is looking at "collaborative working in the region to address the housing challenge".

Speakers include Sir Michael Lyons (pictured), chairman of the English Cities Fund. You can follow the event via the Twitter hashtag #BuildingBritain and see more on Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.

14:34:Bournemouth v WolvesBBC Sport

Wolves welcome back striker Kevin Doyle after he missed the 1-0 win at Cardiff for the birth of his daughter.

It was the third EDL rally in the town in the past five years and hundreds of police officers were drafted in.

13:45:Ex-manager dies aged 80Chris BlakemoreNews editor, BBC WM

The former Walsall and Blues manager Dave Mackay has died aged 80. He was the Saddlers boss from March 1977 to August 1978.

He was in charge at St Andrew's between 1989 and 1991.

Paul Franks will be speaking to his official biographer live on Drivetime today on BBC WM.

13:33:Mander Centre futureExpress and Star

The new owners of the city's Mander Centre, Benson Elliot, have said they want to change the face of shopping in the centre by getting rid of a perceived 'discount store mentality' as it looks ahead to a £25 million revamp. Read more.

13:22:Villa v West BromBBC Sport

Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar has completed a ban but is "touch and go" to face West Brom because of a calf injury.

Kieran Richardson and Aly Cissokho remain unavailable so Matt Lowton could again deputise at left-back.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis (pictured right) has fitness concerns over Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye, who both limped off against Southampton on Saturday with respective foot and knee injuries.

Det Con Mike Griffiths says: "From speaking to the boy's girlfriend we know that the couple first encountered the group of suspects outside the Tesco store on Chipperfield Road.

"The assault then took place by a bus stop outside Hodge Hill United Reformed Church and St Philip & St James Church on Coleshill Road. It was here that a bus passenger handed wet wipes to the boy's girlfriend prior to getting on to a bus and we hope that this person comes forward."

11:39:Heptathlete thanks tweeters

Following the Crimewatch appeal last night Kelly Sotherton tweets: Thank you to everyone who has retweeted or messaged me regarding the medals. It means a lot!

11:24:'I didn't need a mastectomy'Michelle DawesJournalist, BBC WM

This morning I've been speaking with Frances Perks, who had an unnecessary mastectomy at Spire Health Care.

She was told by a consultant in 2012 that all the operations she'd had she didn't need.

Ms Perks says: "I started seeing Ian Paterson in 1994 and saw him until 2010. He always told me my family was high risk and [I have] since found out that wasn't the case. It's had a dreadful effect on me and my family. I just never thought I'd be in this position."

We're speaking to women demonstrating outside the Spire Parkway hospital in Solihull. They were treated by Dr Ian Paterson, who operated unnecessarily on some women who'd seen him privately under the NHS.

The women will deliver an open letter to management at Spire Health Care - expressing their frustration at the slow reaction to their legal cases.

And our reporter Ben Sidwell is in Wolverhampton at a special conference looking at housing issues in the region.

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